AIRLINER IN NEAR MISS WITH A DRONE ABOVE A SCHOOL

An airliner was involved in a near miss with a drone just 500ft above a primary school, an official report revealed last week.

The DH8 turboprop aircraft was on its final approach into Birmingham Airport when the pilot spotted the device, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) said.

He reported that the drone was hovering above a primary school at the same altitude as his plane as he was coming in to land on September 7 last year.

The aircraft continued on its flightpath to the airport as its separation with the drone was estimated to be around 500 metres.

West Midlands Police were informed of the incident but they were unable to locate the drone or its operator.

The incident comes after it was revealed there were seven near misses between aircraft and drones in last month’s UK Airprox Board report, bringing the total over the past 12 months to 60.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) wants the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to back research into the possible consequences of a drone hitting a passenger jet.

Former RAF and British Airways pilot Steve Landells has warned that a drone hitting an airliner could result in an uncontrolled engine failure or a smashed cockpit windscreen.

CAA rules state that drones must not be flown above 400ft or near airports or airfields.

It launched a new website to publish its revised code of conduct for drones, labelled the dronecode, in November.